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2025 Black Cap Raspberry Wine 375ml

This miniscule bottling was produced from 100% black raspberries from a local 5^th generation farm. When farmer Anna Jesse asked during her visit to the winery earlier in the year whether I’d be keen, I answered “yes” with no hesitation. Little did I know that these berries are in the thimbleberry family (we have thimbleberries here at the coast). Black cap are indigenous to North America like blueberries. Anna’s truck delivered them in trays one or two berries deep to protect these ridiculously expensive little things from having their delicate, thimble-y forms crushed. I hadn’t had black caps before, so I fully expected a richer, deeper flavour of red raspberries. Wrong! You may already know all about these. They had a wild, buttery, extremely intense berry aroma and taste that in the form of wine feels like a healing elixir. Erin and I experienced a few new lessons when producing this wine. For example, it has a huge concentration of pectin. After filtering it 4 times, each time leaving delicious black cap jelly on the filter sheets, we arrived at a volume of wine less 40%. It doesn’t drink like Vinifera or like my blueberry wine. It had to be bottled in 375mL’s because it’s so packed with aromas and black raspberry flavours that it almost needs dilution for its essence to open and shine. It’s not sweet/dessert style. I poured a bit into a Champagne and discovered that it’s a perfect pairing! Otherwise, I would suggest pouring it into a cordial for after dinner or using in the bar if you’re one of those who can do cocktail things. About the label: a mountain lion does, indeed, claim the farm as part of its territory. And I’ve added notes from Jim Anderson of Patrica Green Cellars below.

Source: Forest Hills Farms in Cornelius, Oregon. A 5^th generation commercial farm.
Picking Date: 24 June 2025
Fermentation and Élevage: stainless tank
Bottling Date: 3 September 2025
Alcohol:  11%
Cases Produced:  41 cases of 12 x 375mL

Notes from Jim Anderson, Patricia Green Cellars:

“Don’t worry. It only looks like your glassware will be permanently stained as the pigmentation slowly, begrudgingly recedes back down the glass after you’ve swirled the wine about. But maybe you didn’t even notice because you were so preoccupied by the purest expression of black raspberry aromatics that has ever been allowed to roam the planet. For those of you who have never had the distinct pleasure and privilege of tasting these rare and precious berries, that aromatic contains supremely concentrated raspberries, a mélange of Indian spices, tea leaves, pomegranate seed, and fresh loam under a moonlit sky and charcoal.

The flavor is of savory black currants, red beet, Japanese apricots, cranberries, and blueberry extract. These are not common wine descriptors and that is because this is the most uncommon wine that you will ever experience. Savory but hauntingly sweet in its own way and with multiple sips reinforcing that undertone.

This wine is provocative and definitely requires some introspection and time. If the Philosopher’s Soccer (Football) Match of Monty Python fame turned into a wine it would be this wine. If you’re not up for the challenge of deep pondering to realize a profound result this could be added in various quantities to Champagne to fast forward immediate gratification.”